NCSU Libraries Focus Online

North Carolina State University hosted a prestigious executive leadership program for academic and research libraries between April 21 and 26, 2007. Jointly designed and sponsored by Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member libraries, the Research Library Leadership Fellows (RLLF) Program aims to prepare the next generation of deans and directors of large research libraries. North Carolina State's institute of the 2007-2008 RLLF Program, the first of three, is organized around the theme "Extreme Makeover: The Library Edition." Its curriculum included site visits to Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill. The second institute was hosted by Harvard University in July 2007.

A selection committee composed of the ARL directors sponsoring the program chose twenty-three Fellows from a highly competitive applicant pool. The 2007-2008 Fellows include two senior administrators from the NCSU Libraries: Kristin Antelman, the associate director for the digital library, and Wendy Scott, assistant director for organizational design and learning. The pilot program in 2004-2006 included David Goldsmith, who has since been appointed to the senior position of NCSU Libraries associate director for materials management.

The 2007-2008 ARL RLLF Program was designed and sponsored by six ARL member libraries: University of California-Berkeley and the California Digital Library; Harvard University; University of Minnesota; North Carolina State University; Pennsylvania State University; and the University of Toronto. Vice Provost and Director of Libraries Susan K. Nutter said, "As an institution that works actively to recruit and develop the most scholarly, dedicated, and creative members of the library profession, NC State will benefit from working closely with a group of Research Library Leadership Fellows who are poised to shape libraries and librarianship at the national and international level."